Where to Now?
It was only since we entered the New Year that our visits have become twice weekly to Busamed Gateway Private Hospital for regular check-ups post-transplant. Matthew is being given a little more freedom too, as long as he is careful and keeps away from anyone who may...
LISTEN : Hero777 SABC Interview with Matthew
We were interviewed again for the SABC radio stations. This time post Matthew's heart and double lung Transplant. Play the audio file below:
Time for Checkups Post Transplant
Matthew came home from the hospital on a Wednesday, so Wednesday became “check-up day”. With the first week at home being a “no go zone” for visitors, the first trip back to the hospital was Matthew’s first excursion post transplant, and he loved the idea of seeing...
Along the Road to Recovery
As we approached 3 months post transplant for Matthew, I opened Facebook recently to be reminded of this post that I had written a year ago: “When I opened my eyes this morning, I just knew that today was going to be a battle and that I needed to win it. A battle not...
Matthew’s Transplant T+23 – Going Home.
We arrived at the hospital raring to take Matthew home. However, we knew that it always took a while to get out of hospital. We also knew that it was planned for Matthew to leave around 10:00 am. This was to coordinate doctors to be available to see him off. We...
Matthew’s Transplant Story day T+20 to T+22
Over the next couple of days we watched Matthew getting stronger day by day. We sat with him for many hours talking (from the glass door) about past experiences and what was to come post-operation. I had contacted Matthew’s previous cardiologist, Dr Kenny, and...
Matthew’s Transplant Story Day T+17– T+19
Matthew’s Transplant Story Day T+17 We arrived at Busamed Gateway Private Hospital that morning knowing that Matthew was going to theatre to have two (2) chest drains inserted. The CT scan the day before had shown fluid in the chest cavity and these drains were...
Matthew’s Transplant T+ 13, 14, 15 & 16
Matthew’s Transplant T + 13 As Brian and I drove into the hospital grounds, the sun was just coming up in a bright new dawn. We greeted the security guards at the entrance and we realised that we were now following a pattern each day. Those early morning drives to...
Matthew’s Transplant T+ 9, 10, 11 & 12
Matthew’s Transplant T+ 9 It was amazing how things can change so quickly with a patient when they are in ICU – positively or negatively. Our day started off really well with Matthew but it was to become a day of ups and downs for him. On top...
We are half way there to my initial goal!
As of July 2018 we had registered 25276 new organ and tissue donors as a result of our awareness campaigns through Hero777 and Matthew’s Journey – come along for the drive. All of these people who have registered are Heroes for wanting to impact positively on others...
Matthew’s Transplant T + 7 and 8
Matthew’s transplant T +7 By T+ 7 Matthew was doing well, but we were almost too scared to be happy – we worried that the “next bump out there” might cause a serious setback. Matthew, on the other hand, was talking up a storm - asking for...
Matthew’s Transplant Story T+4 and 5 + 6
Matthew’s transplant T + 4 It is incredible to think that 50 years ago, a surgeon with a huge desire to help someone, a donor and a recipient and every person involved, made history and as a consequence many, many people’s lives have been saved. As we sat...
Matthew’s Transplant Story T+3
It felt like the dark thunder clouds which threatened lightning and hail for the last thirty six hours had begun to lift and we saw sunlight peeking through the clouds. As usual Day T+3 started early and we walked into the Surgical ICU with a sense of...
Matthew’s Transplant Story T+2
If you haven’t already, you can read about the previous day's here… Transplant day +1 finished for us around midnight again. We were emotionally and physically exhausted – how could we get so tired when we had hardly moved all day? Matthew had to some degree “turned...
Matthew’s Transplant Story T+1 – Janet & Brian Legemaate
If you haven't already, you can read part 1 & 2 here... Day T-0 ended way past midnight. The day had been “surreal” - a word that we began to use a lot. Before this day we talked about organ donation all the time – and glibly spoke about Matthew’s need for a...
Matthew’s Transplant – T 0 (Transplant day) – Janet Legemaate
If you haven't already, you can read part 1 here... We arrived at Busamed Gateway Private Hospital at 5:30 am on Transplant Day, filled with trepidation. We felt excitement at the fact that this was finally Matthew’s second chance, but also a lot of sadness for...
Matthew’s Transplant : T – 1
My mom and I would not be able to tell my transplant story if a donor family had not made the difficult decision to donate their loved ones organs. This decision has given me the “Gift of Life”. It has also given me the chance to go after my...
Making a World of Difference
You are most probably aware of the Starfish Story with all its variations. The basic story is about a girl on a beach that is strewn with starfishes that washed up during high tide. The tide has receded and being out of the water, they will certainly...
Matthew Receives His Heart & Double Lung Transplant
Matthew and his mother, Janet, began the Matthew’s Journey and the Hero777 Facebook pages when the family realised the critical need for people to register and talk with their family about being an organ and tissue donor. The exact numbers are not clear but...
Organ & Tissue Donation : A Fathers Perspective
Not many parents talk to their children about death. It’s even more tough having the conversation about your child’s potential death. Matthew and I have talked about the reality that he may not survive the transplant operation; given a second...
Brogan’s Story
My name is Brogan and I am 18. As a young child I was often sick. Whatever was going around I would catch it - endless ear infections and one dose of ’flu after the next. When I was five, I went through episodes of unexplained unconsciousness. I would be unconscious...
KZN teenager pushes for organ donor awareness as he waits years for his own heart and lung transplant.
"Matthew Legemaate is an incredibly inspirational 19 year old who’s motto is B positive. He firmly believes that God has a plan for his life and he is also well aware that the positive experiences he has had, have been a gift to him." Click here to continue...
Alan and Marita Procter – Organ Donors who Saved Lives
On the 8th of September one year my parents were killed in one of the most devastating road accidents in Cape Town in years… They were ambling home in rush hour traffic on a Tuesday afternoon making their way slowly up Wynberg Hill toward the M3 Freeway. This...
Carol’s Story
I am Carol Summerfield I was 21 years of age and in the prime years of my life when my kidney journey began in about May 1989. I noticed that my ankles started retaining water and I decided to go to my GP. He suspected Nephrotic Syndrome. I was sent for...
Ant’s Story
I have been living in Johannesburg since I came to South Africa in 2001 on a 3 year contract as MD of Munters (Pty) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Swedish company that I was a director for in the UK. I have carried an Organ Donor Card since I came across the...
Vijay’s Story
My name is Vijay Reddy and I’m a double recipient of organs, Liver and Kidney. My story began in the mid two thousand’s when I used to get sick often and had to be admitted to St Augustine’s Hospital regularly. We soon learnt that my Liver was...
Francie’s Story
So this past week I attended my 20th year school reunion – the class of 1997. Back then I was carefree and never knew of the medical struggles I would encounter later on. While catching up with my old school friends, I found myself saying the same thing to everyone...
Ayanda’s Story
As many people know, in July of 2014, out of the blue, I was diagnosed with Stage 5 Kidney Failure. This diagnosis meant my kidneys weren’t going to get any better and my only hope of survival would be to start dialysis and hope to find a kidney donor in order to...
August is Organ Donor Awareness Month
I would like to be remembered for leaving a positive legacy one day. One way in which I can do this is to register as an organ donor and possibly be responsible for Saving 7 Lives and improving the life of up to 50 other people. When I say this to friends or people I...
Bryn’s Story
The term hero often makes one think of a strapping fire fighter or life guard helping people or saving lives. A year on that is exactly what Bryn Magree, a young 17 year old, qualified life saver, continues to be to many people. Read his incredible story below...
